Growing Jewish Woes Seen For Sen. Clinton (That's what you get when you refuse to take a stand)

[Flabbergasted]

Overwhelming Jewish opposition to war, shown in new polling data, has campaign nervous, observers say.

James D. Besser - Washington Correspondent

Fresh data showing heavy Jewish opposition to the Iraq war may signal trouble ahead for Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign for Jewish support in her presidential drive while seeking a middle ground on the issue.

According to a new analysis of Gallup poll data over a two-year span, 48 percent of Protestants and 53 percent of Catholics surveyed said the Iraq war was a mistake —compared to 77 percent of Jews. The Jewish figure was second only to African American Protestants in opposition to the conflict.

In an indication of the breadth of Jewish opposition, even 65 percent of Jewish “non-Democrats” agree that the war was a mistake.

The numbers confirm what Jewish politicos say may be the 800-pound gorilla in Jewish politics at the start of a long election season: the Iraq war. And Clinton, with a cautious centrist strategy, may be the most vulnerable Democrat.

“It’s huge — it’s the biggest barrier she has to crashing through for the nomination,” said American University historian Allan Lichtman, who has written several books on presidential politics. “Without Iraq, she would be the nominee. But it’s her Achilles heel. It’s the issue core liberal voters care about the most.”

And those voters, who will play a disproportionate role in the nominating process, include a big chunk of the Jewish electorate, he said.

Democratic sources say the well-organized Clinton campaign is aware that her cautious edging away from Bush administration Iraq policy is a problem with progressive voters. But they also believe that the risks of a more dramatic shift in her position outweigh the benefits.


http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=13736

[AtomicKitten]

1. to be fair -- a novel idea here at DU, I know

.... Obama stepped in it pretty good with his comment about Palestinians suffering which, of course, I agree with - but it got the tee-vee talking heads all atwitter.

[karynnj]

6. Believe it or not most Jews in the US agree with that

Various groups like "Seeds of Abraham" have had representatives speak at synagogues. these people have tried to step back and recognize that Palestinians WERE hurt when Israel became a state in 1949 and after the 1967 war. Synagogues have had interfaith reachout programs.

It is true that Jews will not accept anything that leads to the extinction of Jews, but every synagogue that I have been a member of has recognized that it is a very complex situation and that Palestinians have suffered. The Tee Vee talking heads rarely reflect the mainstream Jewish community - as those numbers on the war show.

[AtomicKitten]

10. The media Heathers have a simplistic view of this complex subject

... and use it to wag their fingers tsk-tsking the candidates.

[Flabbergasted]

11. That in mind do you think the article is correct? nt

[BeyondGeography]

7. I'm glad he "stepped in it"

it was a principled and low-risk way to separate himself from Hillary who didn't even utter the "P" word in front of AIPAC. Any "honest broker" in the Middle East has to acknowledge before the world that the current situation is a nightmare for the Palestinians.

[AtomicKitten]

9. It is a dicey subject that is precarious for any of the candidates

Gobama.

[leftchick]

2. she only listens to the RW Likudniks/AIPAC

and she gets a lot of $$$$ for it.

[sam sarrha]

3. cant make everyone happy all the time but you can piss em all off and the only problem with working

both sides of the road is you can get run over if you dont watch out

[Flabbergasted]

4. Which is likely what she is going to face. I don't think she can stay "moderate" forever

and win the nomination.

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Dilemma: You want the money from AIPAC but you don't get the votes

if you take the money, and you need the money . . .

[Cha]

8. So the Jews are ahead of the Prots and

the Caths on what is right on Iraq?

We'll see what little benefits she gits.."Democratic sources say the well-organized Clinton campaign is aware that her cautious edging away from Bush administration Iraq policy is a problem with progressive voters. But they also believe that the risks of a more dramatic shift in her position outweigh the benefits."

Cautious shit.

[Flabbergasted]

12. They're (Jews) also substantially closer to the issue. Go figure. nt